Head suspension having transition arms and rear support

ABSTRACT

A head suspension includes a headband portion having a length and two transition arms. Each transition arm is coupled to the headband portion and extends away from the headband portion length at an angle greater than zero degrees. Each transition arm has a distal end and a pivot at the distal end. The pivot characterized by a pivot point and a rear support portion is pivotally connected to each pivot.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a head suspension for protectiveheadgear and particularly to a head suspension having transition armsand a rear support portion pivotally connected to the transition arms.

BACKGROUND

Protective headgear, for example construction hard hats, helmets, suchas fire fighter helmets, shields such as welding shields and grindingshields, sports equipment headgear, and the like often include aheadgear support or head suspension. The headgear supports or headsuspension often include with headbands and/or head straps that areadjustable so that the headgear can be supported comfortably on any sizehead by the headband.

In many headgear supports or head suspensions, it is desired that theheadband be easy to adjust and that it fit adequately without discomfortto the user. In some cases, it is also desired that headgear supports orhead suspension headbands do not require that the headgear be removedfrom the user's head in order to make adjustments in the size of thehead suspension. Furthermore, it is desired that the head suspension becomfortable to wear for extended periods of time without excessive needof re-positioning or adjustments. Accordingly, there is a need for headsuspensions that are more comfortable to wear for longer periods of timeand that are easier to adjust.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a head suspension for protectiveheadgear and particularly to a head suspension having transition armsand a rear support portion pivotally connected to the transition arms.

In a first embodiment, a head suspension includes a headband portionhaving a length and two transition arms. Each transition arm is coupledto the headband portion and extends away from the headband portionlength at an angle greater than zero degrees. Each transition arm has adistal end and a pivot at the distal end. The pivot characterized by apivot point and a rear support portion is pivotally connected to eachpivot.

In another embodiment, a head suspension includes a laterally extendingheadband portion having a length and two transition arms. Eachtransition arm is coupled to the headband portion and extendslongitudinally away from the headband portion length. Each transitionarm has a distal end and a pivot at the distal end. The pivotcharacterized by a pivot point and a rear support portion is pivotallyconnected to each pivot.

In a further embodiment, a head protection device includes a laterallyextending headband portion having a length and two transition arms. Eachtransition arm is coupled to the headband portion and extendslongitudinally away from the headband portion length. Each transitionarm has a distal end and a pivot at the distal end. The pivotcharacterized by a pivot point. A rear support portion is pivotallyconnected to each pivot. A head protection element is attached to thehead suspension.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be more completely understood in consideration of thefollowing detailed description of various embodiments of the inventionin connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an illustrative head suspension;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective rear view of the illustrative headsuspension shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side elevation view of an illustrative headprotection element;

FIG. 4 is a schematic rear perspective view of an illustrative headsuspension;

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of an illustrative rear supportportion;

FIG. 6 is a schematic side elevation view of an illustrative rearsupport portion and transition arm pivot connection; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic exploded view of the pivot connection shown inFIG. 6.

The figures are not necessarily to scale. Like numbers used in thefigures refer to like components. However, it will be understood thatthe use of a number to refer to a component in a given figure is notintended to limit the component in another figure labeled with the samenumber.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way ofillustration several specific embodiments. It is to be understood thatother embodiments are contemplated and may be made without departingfrom the scope or spirit of the present invention. The followingdetailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense.

All scientific and technical terms used herein have meanings commonlyused in the art unless otherwise specified. The definitions providedherein are to facilitate understanding of certain terms used frequentlyherein and are not meant to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing feature sizes,amounts, and physical properties used in the specification and claimsare to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term“about.” Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numericalparameters set forth in the foregoing specification and attached claimsare approximations that can vary depending upon the desired propertiessought to be obtained by those skilled in the art utilizing theteachings disclosed herein.

The recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all numberssubsumed within that range (e.g. 1 to 5 includes 1, 1.5, 2, 2.75, 3,3.80, 4, and 5) and any range within that range.

As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singularforms “a”, “an”, and “the” encompass embodiments having pluralreferents, unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. As used inthis specification and the appended claims, the term “or” is generallyemployed in its sense including “and/or” unless the content clearlydictates otherwise.

The present disclosure relates to a head suspension for protectiveheadgear and particularly to a head suspension having transition armsand a rear support portion pivotally connected to the transition arms.The disclosed head suspension is comfortable to wear for prolongedperiods of time and reduce the need for the user to re-position oradjust the headgear supports or head suspension headband during use, andat the same time is suitable for carrying a head protection element. Therear support portion is pivotally coupled low on the user's head so thatthe position of the rear support portion avoids certain pressure pointson the back of the user's head. While the present invention is not solimited, an appreciation of various aspects of the invention will begained through a discussion of the examples provided below.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an illustrative head suspension 10.FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective rear view of the illustrative headsuspension 10 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic side elevation viewof an illustrative head protection element 50. FIG. 4 is a schematicrear perspective view of an illustrative head suspension 10. FIG. 5 is aschematic perspective view of an illustrative rear support portion 21.

The head suspension 10 includes a headband 20 that extends about auser's head 30. The head suspension 10 includes one or more top bands 15that extend over the user's head 30 and each end of the top bands isjoined to the headband 20. The head suspension 10 includes a headprotection attachment element 40.

The head protection attachment element 40 couples a head protectionelement to the head suspension 10. In many embodiments, the headprotection attachment element 40 pivotally couples a head protectionelement 50 to the head suspension 10 allowing the head protectionelement 50 to pivot relative to the head suspension 10. The headprotection element 50 can be any useful head protection element such as,for example, a welding helmet or shield, a hard hat, a fire fighterhelmet, a grinding shield, sports equipment headgear, and the like.

The headband 20 is an elongated element having a band length andincludes a front portion 11 and a rear portion 12. The headband 20 has alength and two transition arms 16. Each transition arm 16 is coupled tothe headband 20 at or near the rear portion 12. A proximal end of eachtransition arm 16 is coupled to the headband 20 by any suitable couplingmeans, such as permanent or removable mechanical attachment means. Inone exemplary embodiment, as illustrated, transition arms 16 may beformed integrally with the headband 20. In another embodiment,transition arms 16 may be pivotally coupled with the headband 20. Eachtransition arm can have any useful length defined by a linear distancebetween the proximal end to a distal end 17. One example of this lengthis defined by the linear distance between a bottom edge of the headband20 and the pivot point 19. This length can be, for example, in a rangefrom 1 to 15 cm, or in a range from 2 to 10 cm, or in a range from 2 to6 cm.

Each transition arm 16 extends away from the headband 20 length at anangle θ greater than zero degrees, or, in some exemplary embodiments,from 20 to 110 degrees, or from 60 to 110 degrees, or from 60 to 90degrees. Each transition arm 16 has a distal end 17 and a pivot 18 atthe distal end 17. The pivot 18 is characterized by a pivot point 19,which corresponds to a center of rotation of an adjacent portion of therear support portion 21 with respect to a transition arm 16 it ispivotally connected to. A rear support portion 21 is pivotally connectedto each pivot 18.

The rear support portion 21 can include an adjustment element 13configured to adjust a head size of the head suspension 10. Oneexemplary adjustment element 13 is an adjustment knob providing aratchet-type head size adjustment as described in U.S. Pat. No.4,942,628, and incorporated by reference herein to the extent is doesnot conflict with the present disclosure. However, any other types ofadjustments that enable a user to tighten and/or loosen the headsuspension 10 about a users head are within the scope of the presentdisclosure.

The headband 20 front portion 11 is configured to be disposed across aforehead 35 of a user 30. The headband 20 length extends along aheadband plane H_(P) (a plane extending into the paper and through thetop of the head 30 and across a forehead 35 of a wearer). A front majorsurface of the transition arm 16 may be used to define a transition armaxis T_(P). The transition arm axis T_(P) is a straight line extendinggenerally along the length direction the transition arm 16 and extendingthrough the central region of the transition arm 16. The intersection ofthe headband plane H_(P) and the transition arm axis T_(P) forms anangle θ having the value ranges described above. In many embodiments,the headband 20 extends laterally about the user's head 30 and thetransition arms 16 extend generally longitudinally relative to thelaterally extending headband 20.

In many embodiments, the headband portion 20 is configured to bedisposed against the forehead 35 of the user 30 and the rear support 21is configured to be disposed at or below an occipital bone region of auser. In some embodiments, the headband portion 20 is further configuredto be disposed against the forehead 35 of the user 30 and the rearsupport 21 is configured to be disposed in line with an ear canal (i.e.,external acoustic meatus) of the user and below the ear canal (i.e.,external acoustic meatus) of the user. In some embodiments, the headbandportion 20 is configured to be disposed against the forehead 35 of theuser 30 and the rear support 21 is configured to be disposed at or belowa transverse occipital suture and/or an external occipital protuberanceof a user's skull.

In other embodiments, the headband portion 20 is configured to bedisposed against the forehead 35 of a user 30 and each pivot point 19 isconfigured to be disposed below a BL-9 and GB-19 skull pressure points31 of the user. In some embodiments, the headband portion 20 isconfigured to be disposed against the forehead 35 of the user 30 and therear support 21 is configured to be disposed below a BL-9 and GB-19skull pressure points 31 of the user. In some exemplary embodiments, theends of the rear support 21 can be pivoted about the pivot points 19 tomove through a PIVOT RANGE defined by a rear support 21 raised position21 _(R) and a rear support 21 lowered position 21 _(L).

FIG. 6 is a schematic side elevation view of an illustrative rearsupport portion 21 and transition arm 16 pivot connection. FIG. 7 is aschematic exploded view of the pivot connection shown in FIG. 6. Thetransition arm 16 distal end 17 includes the pivot 18. The end of therear support 21 includes an aperture 22 that is sized to interact withthe pivot 18. In many embodiments, the pivot 18 includes one or moreprojections 18 _(P) that provide(s) a snap lock pivot connection withthe outer edge of the aperture 22. The outer end of each projection 18_(P) may include one or more ridge(s) 18 _(R), which helps secure therear support aperture 22 to a transition arm 16 distal end 17. Thus,during assembly, the rear support 21 aperture 22 travels over and pastthe pivot 18 one or more projections 18 _(P) and their ridge(s) 18 _(R),which flex to allow for insertion into the aperture but subsequently“snaps” together, forming a secure snap lock pivot connection. Theridges 18 _(R) are sized such that they overhang the surface forming theaperture 22, preventing the rear support portion 21 and transition arm16 from separating without inwardly flexing of the pivot 18 projections18 _(P) toward the pivot point 19. Although the figures of the presentapplication show a particular embodiment of the pivot 18, any othersuitable configurations are within the scope of the present disclosure.In some embodiments, the pivot 18 is a projection or post extending awayfrom the transition arm 16 major surface. This post can include ridgessized such that they overhang the surface forming the aperture 22,preventing the rear support portion 21 and transition arm 16 fromseparating without inwardly flexing of the pivot projections toward thepivot point.

In exemplary embodiments, the rear support portion 21 can be attachedand detached from the transition arm 16 pivot 18. In one embodiment, therear support portion 21 can be asymmetric such that a user can assembleit in a low configuration or assemble it in a high configuration wherethe rear support portion 21 is rotated 180 degrees (e.g., flipped) andthereby elevated up or down (because of its asymmetrical shape)depending on preference. This asymmetric feature of the rear supportportion 21 can be utilized to better fit on different back head shapesor for getting free from other head wear. This asymmetric rear supportportion 21 can have an upper and/or lower arcuate edge or outer edge (asshown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4). The arcuate edge can be facing upwardtoward the top of the user's head (not shown) or facing downward in anopposite direction (as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4). When the asymmetricrear support portion 21 is assembled in a low configuration, the rearsupport pivots thorough a first pivot range defined by a rear supportraised position and a rear support lowered position (as shown in FIG. 4and FIG. 5). When the asymmetric rear support portion 21 is assembled ina high configuration, the rear support pivots thorough a second pivotrange (not shown) defined by a rear support raised position and a rearsupport lowered position. In these embodiments, the first pivot range isdifferent that the second pivot range.

The present patent application is a divisional of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/681,829, having a filing date of Oct. 3, 2008from International Application PCT/US2008/078657, which claimed priorityto U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/978,824, filed on Oct. 10,2007, the disclosures of all of which are incorporated by reference intheir entirety herein. Thus, embodiments of the HEAD SUSPENSION HAVINGTRANSITION ARMS AND REAR SUPPORT are disclosed. One skilled in the artwill appreciate that the present invention can be practiced withembodiments other than those disclosed. The disclosed embodiments arepresented for purposes of illustration and not limitation, and thepresent invention is limited only by the claims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A head protection device comprising: a headsuspension comprising: a headband portion having a length and having abottom edge; at least one top band that is configured to extend over auser's head and that comprises two major ends, each major end of whichis joined to the headband portion; two downwardly-extending transitionarms, each transition arm being coupled to the headband portion at aproximal end of the transition arm and with each transition armextending downwardly from the headband portion length at an angle in arange from 60 to 110 degrees, with each transition arm having a distalend and a pivot at the distal end, the pivot characterized by a pivotpoint, wherein each transition arm comprises a length, from the proximalend to the distal end, in a range from 2 cm to 10 cm, and wherein eachtransition arm extends downwardly from the headband portion so that thepivot point of each transition arm is located below the bottom edge ofthe headband portion; and a rear support portion pivotally connected toeach pivot; and, a head protection element that is pivotally to the headsuspension by a pivotable coupling, wherein the head suspension isconfigured to support the entirety of the head protection element by wayof the pivotable coupling.
 2. A head protection device according toclaim 1, wherein each transition arm is integrally formed with theheadband portion.
 3. A head protection device according to claim 1,wherein the rear support portion comprises an adjustment mechanismconfigured to adjust a length of the rear support portion.
 4. A headprotection device according to claim 3, wherein the rear support portioncomprises a ratchet-type adjustment mechanism configured to adjust alength of the rear support portion.
 5. A head protection deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the headband portion is configured to bedisposed against a forehead of the user and the rear support portion isconfigured to be disposed against or below an occipital bone region ofthe user.
 6. A head protection device according to claim 1, wherein whenthe head suspension is fitted to the head of the user, the rear supportportion is pivotable through a pivot range between a maximum raisedposition and a maximum lowered position.
 7. A head protection deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the head suspension comprises at least twotop bands, each top band being configured to extend over the head of theuser and with each end of each top band being connected to the headbandportion.
 8. A head protection device according to claim 7, wherein eachend of each top band is connected to the headband portion at a locationthat is proximal to a head protection attachment element of the headsuspension.
 9. A head protection device according to claim 8, whereineach end of each top band is non-pivotally connected to the headbandportion.
 10. A head protection device according to claim 7, wherein thehead suspension comprises exactly two top bands that arenon-intersecting with each other.
 11. A head protection device accordingto claim 1, wherein the head protection element is a welding helmet,welding shield, grinding shield, or hardhat.
 12. A head protectiondevice according to claim 1, wherein the rear support portion pivotallycouples to each pivot by a snap lock.
 13. A head protection deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein each transition arm comprises at least twothrough-openings, one of which through-openings of that transition armcoincides with the pivot point of that transition arm.
 14. A headprotection device according to claim 13, wherein the through-openingthat coincides with the pivot point of that transition arm is at leastpartially circumferentially surrounded by at least one projection thatprotrudes from that transition arm and that at least partially definesthe through-opening that coincides with the pivot point of thattransition arm, and that is insertable into a through-aperture in therear support portion to form a snap lock that pivotably couples the rearsupport portion to that transition arm.
 15. A head protection deviceaccording to claim 14, wherein the at least one projection comprises aridge that extends generally radially outward from the at least oneprojection; and, wherein the ridge at least partially overhangs asurface of the rear support portion that at least partially defines thethrough-aperture in the rear support portion, when the rear supportportion is snap-locked to the transition arm.
 16. The head protectiondevice of claim 1 wherein each transition arm is non-pivotally coupledto the headband portion at the proximal end of the transition arm. 17.The head protection device of claim 1 wherein the length of eachtransition arm is defined by the linear distance between the bottom edgeof the headband portion and the pivot point.
 18. A head protectiondevice comprising: a head suspension comprising: a headband portionhaving a length and having a bottom edge; at least one top band that isconfigured to extend over a user's head and that comprises two majorends, each major end of which is joined to the headband portion; twodownwardly-extending transition arms, each transition arm being coupledto the headband portion at a proximal end of the transition arm and witheach transition arm extending downwardly from the headband portionlength at an angle in a range from 60 to 110 degrees, with eachtransition arm having a distal end and a pivot at the distal end, thepivot characterized by a pivot point, wherein each transition armcomprises a length, from the proximal end to the distal end, in a rangefrom 2 cm to 10 cm, and wherein each transition arm extends downwardlyfrom the headband portion so that the pivot point of each transition armis located below the bottom edge of the headband portion when the headsuspension is fitted on the head of the user when the head is in anupright position; and a rear support portion pivotally connected to eachpivot; and a head protection element that is pivotally coupled to thehead suspension by a pivotable coupling, wherein the head suspension isconfigured to support the entirety of the head protection element by wayof the pivotable coupling.